Bit-O-Honey

Bit-O-Honey is an American confectionery brand built around a chewy honey-flavored taffy containing chopped almonds. The candy was introduced in 1924 by the Schutter-Johnson Company of Chicago and has remained associated with individually wrapped, bite-sized pieces and a distinctive combination of honey sweetness, nut pieces, and a firm, chewy texture. Its traditional format was also sold as a bar divided into six segments, with an inner wax-paper wrapper and an outer plasticized paper covering. The brand’s original product sits in the traditional candy and taffy segment rather than the chocolate-bar category. Its texture has been compared with that of Mary Jane, another chewy American candy, although Bit-O-Honey is distinguished by its honey flavor and almond inclusions. The product has been sold in bags and theater-size boxes, in addition to earlier bar formats, allowing it to function both as an everyday packaged candy and as a concession-style or bulk-purchase item. Bit-O-Honey’s ownership has changed several times. Schutter-Johnson merged with the Blumenthal Brothers Chocolate Company in 1969. The combined business was later associated with Ward Candy Company, whose portfolio included brands such as Oh Henry! and Raisinets. In 1981, Bit-O-Honey and other Ward brands were acquired by the Terson Company. Terson subsequently sold the Ward Candy brands to Nestlé on January 9, 1984. Nestlé retained the brand for several decades before selling it to Pearson’s Candy Company of Saint Paul, Minnesota, in May 2013. Pearson’s briefly brought back a chocolate-flavored extension, Bit-O-Honey Chocolate, in 2017. That variant had originally appeared during the mid-to-late 1970s under the name Bit-O-Chocolate before being discontinued. Other historical extensions included Bit o’ Licorice and Bit-O-Peanut Butter, but the core honey-and-almond candy remained the principal identity of the brand. Spangler Candy Company, based in Bryan, Ohio, acquired Bit-O-Honey in November 2020. Spangler later transferred the manufacturing equipment from its former Saint Paul location to Bryan in late 2022, with production at the new facility beginning in January 2023. As of 2025, the listed ingredients include corn syrup, sugar, nonfat milk, hydrogenated coconut oil, almonds, honey, salt, egg whites, and natural flavor. The current brand therefore combines a long-running American candy formula with ownership and manufacturing under Spangler Candy Company.

Bit-O-Honey was introduced in 1924 by the Schutter-Johnson Company of Chicago. From its beginning, the product was defined by honey-flavored taffy combined with chopped nuts. Its traditional presentation was a bar divided into six sections, wrapped first in wax paper and then in a plasticized paper exterior. The brand was also distributed as individually wrapped pieces, a format that supported sales in bags, bulk assortments, and theater-size boxes. The brand’s corporate history followed the consolidation of the American candy industry. In 1969, Schutter-Johnson merged with the Blumenthal Brothers Chocolate Company. The latter company was connected with a broader confectionery portfolio that included products such as Oh Henry! and Raisinets and later became associated with Ward Candy Company. During the mid-to-late 1970s, the portfolio included a chocolate-flavored variation called Bit-O-Chocolate. The extension was eventually discontinued. Other short-lived or historical variants included Bit o’ Licorice and Bit-O-Peanut Butter. In 1981, the Terson Company, a Chicago-based business, acquired Bit-O-Honey and other Ward brands. Terson sold those brands to Nestlé on January 9, 1984, bringing Bit-O-Honey into the portfolio of a major international food company. The brand continued under Nestlé ownership for many years, while its core identity remained tied to a traditional American chewy candy rather than to a broad range of contemporary confectionery products. Nestlé sold Bit-O-Honey to Pearson’s Candy Company in May 2013. Pearson’s was based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and its ownership period included a brief 2017 return of Bit-O-Honey Chocolate. That relaunch echoed the earlier Bit-O-Chocolate experiment but did not replace the original honey-and-almond product as the brand’s principal offering. Spangler Candy Company of Bryan, Ohio, acquired Bit-O-Honey in November 2020. In late 2022, Spangler moved the brand’s manufacturing equipment from its former Saint Paul location to Bryan. Production at the new facility began in January 2023, marking the operational transition of the brand to Spangler’s manufacturing base. As of 2025, the product’s listed ingredients include corn syrup, sugar, nonfat milk, hydrogenated coconut oil, almonds, honey, salt, egg whites, and natural flavor. Bit-O-Honey remains an active American candy brand centered on a recognizable legacy formula and nostalgic positioning. Its principal product is a chewy honey-flavored confection with almond pieces, sold in individually wrapped portions and larger packaged formats. The brand’s history is characterized by repeated changes in corporate ownership, occasional flavor extensions, and continuity of its central honey-and-nut concept.

• 2023

  Production begins in Bryan

  [1]Bit-O-Honeyen.wikipedia.org

  Following the relocation of manufacturing equipment, Bit-O-Honey production begins at Spangler’s Bryan, Ohio, facility in January.

• 2020

  Spangler Candy Company acquires the brand

  [1]Bit-O-Honeyen.wikipedia.org

  Spangler Candy Company acquires Bit-O-Honey in November.

• 2017

  Chocolate variant is briefly revived

  [1]Bit-O-Honeyen.wikipedia.org

  Bit-O-Honey Chocolate is briefly reintroduced under Pearson’s ownership.

• 2013

  Pearson’s becomes owner

  [1]Bit-O-Honeyen.wikipedia.org

  Nestlé sells Bit-O-Honey to Pearson’s Candy Company in May.

• 1984

  Nestlé acquires Bit-O-Honey

  [1]Bit-O-Honeyen.wikipedia.org

  Nestlé purchases the Ward Candy brands from Terson on January 9, 1984.

• 1981

  Terson acquires the Ward brands

  [1]Bit-O-Honeyen.wikipedia.org

  Terson Company acquires Bit-O-Honey and other brands connected with Ward Candy Company.

• 1969

  Schutter-Johnson merges with Blumenthal Brothers

  [1]Bit-O-Honeyen.wikipedia.org

  Schutter-Johnson merges with Blumenthal Brothers Chocolate Company, later associated with Ward Candy Company.

• 1924

  Bit-O-Honey is introduced

  [1]Bit-O-Honeyen.wikipedia.org

  Schutter-Johnson Company of Chicago launches Bit-O-Honey as a honey-flavored taffy candy with nuts.

A nostalgic American chewy candy emphasizing honey flavor, chopped almonds, and a traditional taffy texture.

• Chewy candy and taffy · 1924

  Bit-O-Honey

  The core Bit-O-Honey product is a chewy honey-flavored taffy containing chopped almonds. It has traditionally been sold as individually wrapped, bite-sized pieces in bags and theater-size boxes. Earlier packaging also presented the candy as a bar divided into six segments, with wax paper inside a plasticized paper wrapper. The product is positioned as a traditional, nostalgic American confection rather than a chocolate-centered candy bar.

• Chocolate-flavored candy variant

  Bit-O-Chocolate

  Bit-O-Chocolate was a chocolate-flavored extension of the Bit-O-Honey concept. It was offered during the mid-to-late 1970s and was later discontinued. A related chocolate variant was briefly reintroduced in 2017, but the chocolate version has not replaced the original honey-flavored Bit-O-Honey product as the brand’s central offering.

• Licorice candy variant

  Bit o’ Licorice

  Bit o’ Licorice was one of the historical spin-off products associated with the Bit-O-Honey brand family. Available source material identifies the variant but does not provide detailed information about its formulation, packaging, distribution, or precise period of sale.

• Peanut-butter candy variant

  Bit-O-Peanut Butter

  Bit-O-Peanut Butter was a historical spin-off associated with Bit-O-Honey. The available references establish its existence but do not specify a launch year, detailed recipe, packaging format, or duration in the market.

• 2023

  Manufacturing transition to BryanStrategy

  Background

  After acquiring Bit-O-Honey, Spangler had manufacturing equipment located at the former Saint Paul site.

  Action taken

  Spangler moved the equipment to Bryan in late 2022 and began production there in January 2023.

  Aftermath

  Manufacturing was integrated into Spangler’s Bryan, Ohio, operations.

  Source

• 2020

  Spangler Candy Company acquires the brandM&A

  Background

  Bit-O-Honey was owned by Pearson’s Candy Company after Nestlé’s 2013 divestiture.

  Action taken

  Spangler Candy Company acquired Bit-O-Honey in November 2020.

  Aftermath

  The brand became part of Spangler’s candy portfolio and its production was subsequently transferred to Bryan, Ohio.

  Source

• 2017

  Brief reintroduction of Bit-O-Honey ChocolateProduct launch

  Background

  A chocolate-flavored Bit-O-Honey extension had previously been sold as Bit-O-Chocolate during the 1970s.

  Action taken

  Pearson’s briefly reintroduced a chocolate version in 2017.

  Aftermath

  The chocolate variant remained a limited revival, while the original honey-and-almond candy continued as the primary product.

  Source

• 2013

  Nestlé sells Bit-O-Honey to Pearson’sM&A

  Background

  Nestlé had owned the brand since its 1984 acquisition of the Ward Candy brands.

  Action taken

  Nestlé sold Bit-O-Honey to Pearson’s Candy Company in May 2013.

  Aftermath

  The brand moved to Pearson’s Saint Paul, Minnesota, operations and later received a brief chocolate-variant relaunch.

  Source

• 1984

  Sale of Bit-O-Honey to NestléM&A

  Background

  Terson Company controlled Bit-O-Honey after acquiring the Ward brands in 1981.

  Action taken

  Terson sold the Ward Candy brands, including Bit-O-Honey, to Nestlé on January 9, 1984.

  Aftermath

  Bit-O-Honey entered Nestlé’s confectionery portfolio and remained under its ownership until 2013.

  Source

1. 1Bit-O-Honeyen.wikipedia.org